Two public forums this week gave parents and community members insight into a proposed calendar switch at Addison Community Schools, a move that is intended to help improve at-risk students’ grades.

Superintendent Steve Guerra and Addison Elementary Principal John Williams answered questions and concerns Thursday during the nearly two-hour forum. A packet of information and list of frequently asked questions were also handed out to attendees. The first forum took place Tuesday.

Guerra and Williams were joined by Sadie Yoder, a parent and teacher at Hunt Elementary School in Jackson, a school that has used the balanced calendar for three years.

The balanced calendar as proposed would spread out the school year from the traditional September-to-June format to an August-to-June setup, shortening summer break but also reducing what the administration calls “learning loss.” Teachers report they often spend three to four weeks at the start of each school year reteaching things students forget over a longer summer break.

The students would attend several weeks of school, then have a one- to two-week break, then repeat the cycle.

The more evenly spread calendar is intended to largely assist the “at-risk” students, those who struggle to learn and who score lower on state-mandated tests. Those test scores lower school averages and leave schools susceptible to state intervention.

Approximately 80 parents attended Thursday’s forum to ask questions and express their support or concerns about the proposed switch.

Yoder addressed several questions regarding how students adjust to the calendar change.

“We have found when we start in August, it’s like we’ve never left,” she said in reference to teaching and learning. “It’s very smooth, very orderly.”

She added that discipline problems lessen because of the balance of breaks and learning time, and there are fewer student and teacher absences.

Some discussion ensued as to whether Addison should be the first school in the county to implement the calendar. Onsted, Morenci and Madison are also examining the idea of switching to a more year-round concept.

Parent Matt SeGraves said he liked the idea of being proactive.

“I am all for being a leader,” he said. “I think the risk is low, and the potential gain is great.”

Some criticism was heard from audience members on topic points ranging from the different calendar interrupting day-care agreements to the balanced calendar being another educational fad. In the past, Addison briefly used block scheduling and trimesters before abandoning both concepts.

Parent Amy Zacharias said she was undecided on the proposed switch but asked that people be “more open-minded” on what the balanced calendar can do for the students.

Page 2 of 2 - “I would like their minds more stimulated by giving them something to do,” she said regarding her children, adding that the idea of learning times being closer together can be beneficial and reduce “boredom.”

Monica Robbins, a mother of three children, said she appreciated the school district’s willingness to address the idea of a change to help the students.

“I commend you for looking outside the box,” she said.

The board of education is expected to examine the feedback provided by parents and the community and address the matter at its meeting on March 24. The board has the option of moving forward with implementing the calendar for 2014-15 or tabling it in favor of conducting additional research.